A friend once told me he had been chased down the middle of a suburban street by an unseen presence clutching at his shoulders. And to the Dana Scullys amongst us, the idea of ‘a presence’ is somewhat disturbing.

But to the open-minded Mulders out there, and to Jesus, there is another kind of presence: a comforting presence which is nothing short of God making himself at home in our hearts and lives.

So when Jesus’ disciples are troubled at the prospect of his departure (John 14:1-14), he promises to send them ‘another comforter’ (John 14:15-31) - someone to continue his own personal presence with his people.